Willie O'Ree

Willie O'Ree made NHL history at the Montreal Forum on January 18, 1958, when he became the first black player to take to the ice. There was a round of applause when O'Ree stepped onto the ice, and newspapers ran the story. The colour barrier in the NHL had been broken, yet it would be sixteen years before the next black player, Mike Marson, was drafted. Four decades later, the NHL pulled O'Ree out of retirement to honour his achievement and make him an ambassador for the NHL's "Hockey is for Everyone" program to encourage kids from all backgrounds to play hockey.



This book traces the early life of O'Ree, his journey to the NHL, highlights from his hockey career, and his work encouraging diversity in the NHL.